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Jerk TV Reporter Makes Fun of iPhone Line Waiters, Gets Own'd On Live TV

Submitted by Michael Johnston on July 13, 2008 - 2:22pm.
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Many iPhone Alley readers, including most of us here at the site, decided to wait in line for the iPhone 3G on Friday. Why? Well, some of us are die-hard Apple fans, others simply want to get the best phone available. So when we see reporters show up to check out the madness, the last thing we expect is to be insulted by one of them. Unfortunately, one KTLA reporter couldn't help himself and, allegedly under orders from his producer, decided to ask some less than dignified questions.

Fortunately for iPhone fans everywhere, the man he directed his questions to gave him the best response a question like this could yield. In other words, this reporter was own'd. Hard. Read on for the video.

[via Gizmodo]

Not what I expected

Submitted by xxporkxsodaxx on July 13, 2008 - 2:39pm.
I thought there was going to be a punch or two.

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 13, 2008 - 3:16pm.
I watched this yesterday and I find it appalling. I mean, I love Gizmodo and all but it seems like something they would do. I guess Gizmodo is still journalism but its very well accepted to be casual, fun, and cut-loose. A TV news station should never do anything like this. The reporter comes off as a complete idiot that needs to look cool for somebody and he definitely does not achieve that. If I was the guy in line, I'm not even sure how I would have handled that situation. I really don't. If I end camping out for a future product launch, I will be sure to carry some sort of harmless, yet effective reporter repellent in case of such event. Water balloons filled with pancake syrup perhaps.

Submitted by Headblade on July 13, 2008 - 3:43pm.
I am a plumbing contractor, and although I am waiting for a 32gb 3g iPhone before I upgrade, I was in line last year, and I can honestly say that if this guy talked to me like that, he'd lose teeth. Cheers!

Submitted by Edward Kirk on July 13, 2008 - 3:50pm.

Own'd

Submitted by Thom Smith (not verified) on July 13, 2008 - 4:06pm.
I think the person in line gave him a good response, but I don't know about owned.

Submitted by no one (not verified) on July 13, 2008 - 4:47pm.
He should have replied, "does your mom count?

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 13, 2008 - 5:47pm.
Yeah, I'm not particularly fond of the 'your mom' jokes, but that probably would have been the best reply if you wanted to get back at him.

Submitted by WatersWest on July 13, 2008 - 6:56pm.
Well, if you aren't fond of the 'your mom' jokes, he could have used 'your wife' instead. (It would be quite funny even if the guy wasn't married).

I agree ... I don't think the guy was own'd.

Submitted by jedimacfan (not verified) on July 13, 2008 - 8:29pm.
Eric Spillman is a tw@

What an asshole

Submitted by username (not verified) on July 13, 2008 - 9:37pm.
Who hires an asshole with this level of "people skills" who can't even stop blabbing when he realizes he's been told to "f*** off". Journalism in America has falen to the lowest level, in medieval Europe courts, these were called Jesters and were fed the same bones the dogs were thrown. Then, one of them obviously sneaked onto Mayflower...

Submitted by agent6998 on July 13, 2008 - 9:52pm.
Dang I'm glad I don't watch KTLA 5. That channel sucks. LOL The ironic part is that same jackass was all excited the opening day of WWDC 08 and he was saying all this good stuff but now he's just being a jackass. Haha. In honor of Apple, I will never watch KTLA (CW) ever again!

richardsonpaste

Submitted by ilikedrpepper* (not verified) on July 13, 2008 - 10:08pm.
"Does your daughter count?" would have really gotten things spicy ( pending that the d bag actually has a daughter). F'ing imagine the viral possibilities. it would be everywhere.

Also everyone should know who isnt from CA that the state's newscasting quality is shamefully bad. I recently took a trip out to oakland and witnessed it first hand. Its like a minor league for newscasters. Viewing this tape confirms that LA has equally as bad news. (Dont get me wrong, I love california but its just funny that the the news quality is hilariously terrible, i dk)

Submitted by baby-iphone.com (not verified) on July 13, 2008 - 11:05pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilikedrpepper* View Post
"Does your daughter count?" would have really gotten things spicy ( pending that the d bag actually has a daughter). F'ing imagine the viral possibilities. it would be everywhere.
a better one would be does your wife count, that way if he countered with i dont have one and quick i can see why would put him back a step!

Submitted by iswenson on July 14, 2008 - 12:48am.
LOL what a loser

Submitted by James Blond on July 14, 2008 - 9:44am.
I don't know, guys -- let's face it, it IS a phone. He might not have aimed his criticism at the right people or in the right vein -- that was kind of gross, the way he picked on the guy with glasses -- but we are all fair game rushing out to get something that amounts to a very good software upgrade. If my much-loved 1st-gen iphone was still working, there's no way I'd be waiting in that freakin line. Life's too short, and Apple's too rich. They're getting my money, but not my time.

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 14, 2008 - 12:52pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by James Blond View Post
I don't know, guys -- let's face it, it IS a phone. He might not have aimed his criticism at the right people or in the right vein -- that was kind of gross, the way he picked on the guy with glasses -- but we are all fair game rushing out to get something that amounts to a very good software upgrade. If my much-loved 1st-gen iphone was still working, there's no way I'd be waiting in that freakin line. Life's too short, and Apple's too rich. They're getting my money, but not my time.
I disagree with this whole "it's just a phone!" thing. It happens to be an exceptional product that a large percentage of people want and enjoy. If the demand justifies waiting in line, then let them. I'm not about to go to a car convention where people are drooling over Ferraris (or insert cool car here) and start making fun of them. If people have a large interest in cars, then so freaking be it. "It's just a car!!!" is only insulting them. Because I don't know jack about cars doesn't give me the right nor the understanding to make fun of them.

That being said, the reporter should go home in shame for being exceptionally lousy at his job.

Ummmm

Submitted by James Blond on July 14, 2008 - 1:25pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superman View Post
I disagree with this whole "it's just a phone!" thing. It happens to be an exceptional product that a large percentage of people want and enjoy. If the demand justifies waiting in line, then let them. I'm not about to go to a car convention where people are drooling over Ferraris (or insert cool car here) and start making fun of them. If people have a large interest in cars, then so freaking be it. "It's just a car!!!" is only insulting them. Because I don't know jack about cars doesn't give me the right nor the understanding to make fun of them.

That being said, the reporter should go home in shame for being exceptionally lousy at his job.

I believe Superman hisself gave someone grief on another thread for complaining about the lines with the very words, "It's a phone." Am I wrong Supe?

Submitted by Kevin Dunahee on July 14, 2008 - 1:38pm.
You are absolutely right. My own personal philosophy is that is is just a phone. My point was that it's not polite to show up to the line and attempt to belittle people that just wanted to wait for it, whether they actually needed the phone or whether they were waiting just for fun, as many were. My post in the previous thread was to someone, who if remember right, was asking for advice about whether to wait in line or not (I could be wrong, I can't remember). I gave my recommendation. I feel confident in saying that I did not insult anybody by saying that. And if I did, I sincerely apologize. Quite the contrary for our reporter above. He DID offend people that were already waiting in line.

Referring back to my car analogy. I feel the same way. My own personal philosophy is that it is just a car. However, I'm not going to be an a-hole and show up to a car show and talk down to car enthusiasts. It's not polite, nor is it journalism in any sense of the word.

Sorry, I was unclear as to what I was trying to say.

impartial 75th

Submitted by *ilikedrpepper (not verified) on July 14, 2008 - 4:19pm.
i completely understand the argument for "its just a phone", its just too bad that the iphone is undoubtedly more than "just a phone". I think the multi touch technology alone proves that fact, not to mention the application factor( limitless possibilities), assimilation of a real video ipod, email app, internet browser, etc. and this is coming from someone who doesn't even own one, im no apple fanboy. from a technical stand point, this phone is going to influence this type of technology for at least the next 5-8 years if not more. just imagine if apple comes out with a full fledged tablet pc using the iphones touch screen capabilities,( in which im sure the will). i will say the whole "apple cult/secret society hipster" thing definitely gets more than annoying, however no one can argue the absolute quality and originality of apple's products.

after reading this posting...

Submitted by frannyc28 on July 15, 2008 - 3:14pm.
I went to the KTLA website and found this A**Hole has a blog. The blog was plastered with comments about his behavior. I added my comment too and wrote a couple of letters to the HR department, the show producers and every single email I found on the website. I asked for a live on air apology since the whole offensive situation was live and for the whole audience to see it. Today I got an email from KTLA with a link to his yesterday's apology! So I guess talking out loud does work! For my fellow geeks/nerds and all of those who have NOT SEEN A NAKED WOMAN AND PREFER A GADGETS TO A HUMAN BEING! http://blogs.ktla.com/news_custom_er...ment-122456572

I found this site called http://URAjerk.com maybe you can use it.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on July 24, 2008 - 2:57pm.
I found this site called http://URAjerk.com maybe you can use it. It seems to help get me through the issues of dealing with some of the jerks I know. At least I can vent about these jerks, plus I get a kick out of sending them some cards.